Maddie James
Candling is a process used to assess the fertility and development of eggs. It involves shining a bright light through an egg's shell to observe its internal contents, allowing for the identification of non-viable eggs. While candling is commonly employed in commercial hatcheries, it can also be done at home with simple equipment. The optimal days to candle eggs are days 7 and 14, as earlier or later in the incubation process, eggs may not have developed enough or may be too filled with a chick to see anything. Dark-shelled eggs may also be harder to observe. Overall, candling helps improve hatch rates and chick quality by preventing contamination and allocating resources to viable eggs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To assess the fertility, development, and viability of eggs |
| Usage | Commonly used in commercial hatcheries, especially during incubation |
| Timing | Typically performed at various points during incubation, such as days 5-6, 9-10, and closer to the transfer day; candling after day 16 or 17 is not recommended |
| Frequency | Eggs can be candled daily, but it is best to limit the time eggs are out of the incubator |
| Equipment | Bright and focused light source, candling tables, automatic candling equipment, or simple DIY setups |
| Technique | Shine light through the egg in a dark room, observe contents for signs of development, and mark/note progress |
| Benefits | Improves chick quality, optimizes incubator space, reduces contamination risk, and increases hatchery efficiency |
| Drawbacks | Time-consuming, risk of errors, and potential for embryo damage if temperature is not maintained |
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What You'll Learn
Candling equipment
The term "egg candling" comes from the past when people used candles for light. Poultry breeders would place a candle inside a wooden box with a hole big enough to allow light to shine through the egg without letting the egg fall into the box. Modern candling equipment has advanced significantly, offering various options for those looking to candle their eggs.
One option is to use a small ultra-bright torch, which can be easily found in most households. When using a torch, it is important to create a good seal by holding your hand between the egg and the torch. This technique ensures that light does not escape and provides a clear view of the egg's contents.
For those seeking a more specialized tool, there are egg candlers specifically designed for this purpose. These can be powered by batteries or mains electricity. Mains-powered candlers typically come in two varieties: a handheld torch-like device with a rubber seal around the end, and a tabletop unit with a designated spot to place the egg. It is worth noting that LED versions of these candlers are preferable as they do not emit heat, reducing the risk of damaging the embryos.
In addition to purchasing dedicated egg candlers, it is also possible to build your own egg candling setup on a budget. This can be achieved by placing a desk lamp with a bright, low-energy light bulb inside a cardboard box. A small, round hole cut in the top of the box allows for the pointed end of the egg to be examined. This setup provides an excellent light source for candling eggs, especially when combined with modern LED torches that emit minimal heat.
When candling eggs, it is important to note that dark-shelled eggs, such as Marans or Welsummer eggs, can be more challenging to examine. To overcome this difficulty, it is recommended to practice with lighter-colored eggs first and ensure that the examination takes place in a dark room to optimize visibility.
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Embryo development
Candling is a process used to observe embryo development and identify potential issues. It involves holding a strong light above or below the egg, with the egg placed against an aperture and illuminated. The embryo appears as a dark shadow, and healthy embryos will respond to the light by moving. This movement can sometimes be sluggish, and it can take up to 40 seconds for an unhealthy embryo to react.
When candling, it is important to ensure that the eggs are clean and that your hands are washed and dry. Bacteria can be transferred to the eggs during the process, and oil from your fingers can clog the pores in the eggshell, depriving the embryo of oxygen.
It is also crucial to avoid bumping or jostling the egg, especially during the early days of incubation, as the delicate blood vessels are still developing. By observing the blood vessels, you can determine the health of the embryo. Well-defined blood vessels indicate a healthy embryo, while broken or deteriorating blood vessels indicate early or late embryo deaths.
Additionally, the size of the air sac or cell in the egg can provide important information. Abnormalities in the development of the air sac can impact the suitability of the egg for vaccine production. Adjusting the humidity levels based on the size of the air cell can help ensure a successful hatch.
By understanding embryo development and utilizing techniques like candling, it is possible to optimize the conditions for a successful hatch and gain insights into the incredible journey of life.
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Viable vs non-viable eggs
During candling, a bright light is directed through the eggshell to reveal the egg's internal contents. This process helps to identify signs of early mortality or infertility. For example, if the egg yolk floats and can be seen as a darker area towards the top before the air sac, it indicates that the egg is clear and will not develop. On the other hand, a viable egg will show spider-like veins stretching out into the yolk, supplying nutrients to the embryo.
Candling is typically done during the incubation period, with the first inspection occurring as early as day 5 or 6. However, it is important to note that candling on brown eggs can be more challenging and may require a stronger light source. By day 7 or 8, veining should be visible in viable eggs, indicating the presence of a developing embryo.
To distinguish between viable and non-viable eggs, candlers look for specific indicators. Viable embryos move in response to light and have well-defined blood vessels. The presence of black dots or movement inside the egg can also indicate a viable egg. In contrast, non-viable eggs may exhibit signs of early or late embryo death, such as a small dark area and disrupted blood vessels, or the absence of movement and the breakdown of blood vessels, respectively. Additionally, cracked eggs are considered non-viable as they are susceptible to bacterial infection, which can lead to embryo death and potential contamination of other eggs.
The identification and removal of non-viable eggs through candling offer several benefits. It helps prevent unnecessary incubation, optimises incubator space, reduces contamination risks, and improves overall hatchery efficiency. Additionally, removing non-viable eggs contributes to higher hatch rates and healthier chicks.
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Optimal timing
Candling is a process commonly used in commercial hatcheries to assess the fertility and development of eggs, particularly during the incubation period. It involves shining a light source, typically a bright and focused beam of light, through an eggshell to observe the internal contents of the egg. This process allows for the identification of non-viable eggs, which can optimise the use of incubator space, reduce the risk of contamination, and improve overall hatchery efficiency.
The optimal timing for candling eggs depends on several factors, such as the type of egg and the specific development indicators being observed. However, most sources recommend candling eggs between 7 and 14 days after the start of incubation.
On day 7, one can be reasonably precise about the viability of the embryo. By this time, veins and blood vessels should be visible, indicating normal development. Additionally, the embryo may be visible and wiggling or kicking in the egg.
On day 14, the egg will be close to full, and the blood vessels will be visible near the shell. However, it may be challenging to see much else at this point, as the egg is mostly filled with a developed chick.
To minimise the potential for candling errors, some sources suggest conducting examinations on day 9 or 10 of incubation. This timing allows for a quicker assessment of a tray of eggs using a candling table, which illuminates the entire tray from beneath. While this method may sacrifice a degree of accuracy, it is more efficient in terms of time and labour.
It is recommended to avoid candling eggs during the last few days of incubation, as the chick moves into position to hatch. During this time, the air pocket in the egg should be getting larger, and the egg will darken as it fills with the bird.
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Egg candling benefits
Egg candling is a process of shining a bright light behind an egg to check whether it is fertile or not. It is a cheap and straightforward process that can be done with a small ultra-bright torch, or even a candle as was done traditionally.
Identify Fertile Eggs
Candling eggs helps identify infertile eggs that should be removed from the incubator. This saves time and costs such as electricity on eggs that will not hatch.
Identify Cracked Eggs
Cracked eggs are prone to bacterial infections and candling helps identify these eggs so they can be removed from the incubator.
Identify Eggs with Double Yolks
Eggs with double yolks rarely hatch and candling helps identify these eggs so they can be removed from the incubator.
Identify Dead Embryos
Candling helps identify dead embryos by the presence of a thin ring within the egg or around the short circumference. This indicates that the embryo died early in incubation.
Improve Hatch Rates
Egg candling helps achieve high hatch rates by identifying and removing non-viable eggs from the incubator. This increases the number of viable eggs in the incubator, improving the hatch rate.
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Frequently asked questions
Egg candling is a process used to assess the fertility and development of eggs, particularly during the incubation period. It involves shining a bright light through an egg to observe its contents and check for viability.
Egg candling helps identify non-viable eggs early on, allowing hatcheries to optimise incubator space, reduce contamination risks, and improve overall efficiency. It also helps improve chick quality by contributing to higher hatch rates and healthier chicks.
Egg candling is typically performed at various points during the incubation process, such as around days 5-6, 9-10, and sometimes closer to the day of transfer to the hatcher. It is recommended to avoid candling between days 11 and 14, as it can disrupt embryo movement.
It is important to use the correct candling equipment, maintain a dark room, and handle eggs gently to avoid embryo damage. Eggs can be out of the incubator for up to 30 minutes but should be returned as soon as possible to maintain temperature. Regular candling can help identify issues and improve hatching success.
